
You've probably by this time heard the old coverage adage, "Stay in your lane." Here the Jets do not stay in their lanes. David Harris, backside inside contain, is far too close to Justin McCareins, who has outside contain. Harris should be closer to Cody Spencer, the backside wedge buster, than any other teammate. It is actually difficult for me to say what, if anything, David Harris is doing out there. The Jets are basically a man down on this play because David Harris is chasing Justin McCareins down the field.
David Bowens, playside outside contain, is way too far outside. He should be much closer to Stacy Tutt, who is faster downfield, and in his correct lane, despite being harassed by Ben Watson. The gap between Bowens and Rashad Washington (unblocked at the 30 yd hash) is the gap Hobbs will spring through for the touchdown.
Also highlighted on this pic is the TD block now being thrown by Mel Mitchell on Erik Coleman.
Here we see the outcome of the poor lane choices by the Jets backside. That's 4 different Jets (McCareins, Harris, Spencer, Smith) trying to run Ellis Hobbs down from behind the wedge. Only McCareins belongs there.
Compare and contrast the play of wedge buster Cody Spencer (3) with Brad Kassell, who demolishes Pierre Woods, Stephen Neal, and Willie Andrews in one fell swoop. Cody Spencer, cutting off the back end of the wedge, only succeeds in demolishing David Harris (2), his teammate.
Larry Izzo is marked here as one of two frontline players (the other being Mel Mitchell) to successfully hold and finish their blocks on this play. Izzo prevents gunner Wallace Wright from following behind Brad Kassell playside and doing some damage.
In the foreground you can see Le Kevin Smith, the sole survivor of the wedge, leading on Stacy Tutt. Watson, who was blocking Tutt, is turning upfield along with Evans and Mays to form a moving wall up the hash.
In the bottom left, you can see the outcome of Le Kevin Smith vs. Stacy Tutt. Tutt will actually end up halfway outside the numbers. Watson, first person in the wall, is engaging Rashad Washington, playside safety, while David Bowens is trying to get into the hole from way outside. Having beaten backside pursuit, Hobbs' only task here is to beat outside contain to the outside. Who is faster, David Bowens or Ellis Hobbs?
Hobbs is. Evans leads on the last unblocked Jet (Nugent) while Mays heads upfield from Mitchell, who is still holding his block. Impressively, Willie Andrews is up off the turf and rejoining the play, as is Le Kevin Smith, who naturally makes very wide right turns upfield.